Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth and last Sikh Guru, a spiritual leader, philosopher, poet and a great warrior. Born as Gobind Rai, he emerged as tenth Sikh Guru at age nine after his father Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, was beheaded publicly on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb as he refused to convert to Islam. Such atrocity led Guru Gobind Singh to found the Sikh warrior community called Khalsa that marked a significant event in the history of Sikhism. He also introduced the five articles famous as the Five Ks and commanded the Khalsa Sikhs to wear at all times. Other contributions of the Guru includes writing important texts on Sikhism and holding Guru Granth Sahib, the religious scripture of Sikhism, as the eternal living guru of the Sikhs.
Childhood & Early Life
He was born Gobind Rai on January 5, 1666 in Patna Sahib, Bihar, India in the Sodhi Khatri family of the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur and his wife Mata Gujri. The first Maharaja of Sikh Empire Ranjit Singh later built the Gurdwara Takht Sri Patna Sahib in the site of the house where Guru Gobind Singh was born and lived for the first four years of his life. The Guru returned to Punjab with his family in 1670 and later relocated with them to ChakkNanaki on the edge of Shivalik Hills in March 1672 where he did his schooling.
In 1675, the Kashmiri Pandits approached Guru Tegh Bahadur to protect them from oppression of the Islamic satrap of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb called Iftikar Khan. According to the composition Bachittar Natak written by Guru Gobind Singh, his father promised to protect the Kashmiri Pandits and was summoned to Delhi on a pretext by Aurangzeb and on his arrival, Tegh Bahadur was asked to convert to Islam. Tegh Bahadur was arrested along with his associates after he refused and was beheaded in public on November 11, 1675, in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. Such execution only toughened determination of the Sikhs to fight against atrocities of the Muslims in safeguarding their human rights and identity as Sikhs.
The martyrdom of his father led the Sikhs to formally install the nine year old Gobind Rai as the tenth Sikh Guru on March 29, 1676, on Vaisakhi. He continued with his education which apart from reading and writing also included archery, horse riding and other martial arts. Till 1685 he stayed in Paonta Sahib.
In 1699, the Guru asked the Sikhs to assemble at Anandpur Sahib on Vaisakhi. The Guru with a sword in hand called for a volunteer from among the crowd who is ready to sacrifice his head. On his third call one person named Daya Ram (later called BhaiDaya Singh) came forward. The Guru took him in a tent and returned alone to the crowd with blood dripping from his sword. Another volunteer was called by the Guru who was again taken inside the tent and after some time the Guru returned alone with the bloody sword. He continued the process with three more volunteers but after the fifth volunteer went inside the tent, the Guru came out with all the five volunteers unharmed. The Guru blessed the five volunteers namely BhaiDaya Singh, BhaiDharam Singh, Bhai Sahib Singh, BhaiMohkam Singh and Bhai Himmat Singh and called them the PanjPyare (the five beloved ones) and the first Khalsa in the Sikh tradition. The Guru then took an iron bowl and prepared a solution of water and sugar stirring it with a double-edged sword calling it Amrit (nectar). The five volunteers then received the nectar from the Guru amidst recitations from the Adi Granth. With this the khandekapahul (baptization ceremony) of the warrior community of Khalsa was initiated. A new surname of “Singh” meaning lion was given to them by the Guru. The Guru then asked the five baptized Sikhs to baptize him as a Khalsa and with this the Guru became the sixth Khalsa and from this time he came to be known as Guru Gobind Singh.
The Guru commanded the Sikhs to wear five items all the time which included Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (a comb made of wood), Kara (a bracelet made of iron), Kachera (a tieable undergarment made of 100% cotton) and Kirpan (a large iron dagger for self-defense). A code of discipline was introduced by him for the Khalsa warriors. These included prohibition of tobacco, eating ‘halal’ meat that is slaughtered as per Muslim ritual, fornication and adultery. The Khalsas consented never to communicate with followers of the rivals or their successors. The principle of equality was institutionalised in Sikhism with initiation of both men and women from different castes as Khalsa. The Guru played an instrumental role by institutionalising Khalsa in Sikhism thus strengthening the Sikhs in their resistance on the continuous persecution of the Mughal Empire under Aurangzeb. He came up with different concepts that posed indirect challenge to the biased tax system of the Islamic authorities.
Adi Granth, the first official edition of the Sikh scripture was compiled by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan. It contained hymns of previous Gurus and of other saints. Adi Granth was eventually expanded into the Guru Granth Sahib. In 1706, Guru Gobind Singh released the second rendition of the religious scripture with addition of one salok, dohramahala 9 ang, 1429 and all the 115 hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The rendition came to be known as Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru Granth Sahib composed by Guru Nanak Dev and other Sikh Gurus including Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Ram Das, Guru Angad Dev, Guru Amar Das, Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh and also containing traditions and teachings of Indian sants (saints), like Namdev and Kabir as also two Muslim Sufi saints Sheikh Farid and BhagatBhikan was declared as the eternal living guru for Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh.
Hostility between the Sikhs and the Muslims increased following execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Guru Gobind Singh believed in a DharamYudh that is to fight to defend righteousness and fought thirteen wars against the Mughal Empire and the kings of Siwalik Hills but never held captive or destroyed place of worship of other religions. Among the conflicts, the Second Battle of Anandpur (1704) witnessed a fierce battle and towards its end Aurangzeb offered a safe passage out of Anandpur for the Guru, his family and followers which the Guru accepted. However the two batches of the Sikhs were attacked while they were leaving Anandpur and the one including the Guru’s mother Mata Gujari and his two sons Zorawar Singh aged 8 and Fateh Singh aged 5 was captured. The two sons died after they were buried live into a wall when they refused to convert to Islam while Mata Gujri died hearing her grandsons’ death. The Guru lost two of his other sons Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh, along with other Sikh soldiers during the Battle of Chamkaur (1704).
In 1705 following the Battle of Chamkaur where Aurangzeb and his army betrayed after making a promise the Guru wrote a defiant letter to Aurangzeb in Persian language titled Zafarnama (literally, “epistle of victory”). In the letter the Guru sternly censured and accused Aurangzeb and his commanders for being immoral, both in governing and in war conduct and predicted end of Mughal Empire in near future due to its immorality, persecution and untruthfulness.
Last Years & Death
The Guru and his soldiers stayed at different places following the Second Battle of Anandpur in 1704 including hiding in the Machhiwara jungle of southern Panjab. Following a succession struggle after death of Aurangzeb in 1707, Bahadur Shah, the official successor wanted to meet the Guru in person in the Deccan area of India to reconcile with him. While the Guru camped at Nanded on the banks of Godavari River two Afghans, Jamshed Khan and Wasil Beg managed to enter his vicinity and Jamshed Khan stabbed the Guru. The Guru retaliated and killed Jamshed Khan while Wasil Beg was killed by the Sikh guards. The Guru succumbed to the wounds of the assault on October 7, 1708 which was followed by resurgence of the Sikh-Mughal war. While it is considered that Muslim army commander and the Nawab of Sarhandh Wazir Khan sent the assassins to kill the Guru, some scholars opine that they were sent by the Mughal army stationed nearby.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh built the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded to commemorate the place of assassination of the Guru.
Teachings of Guru Gobind Singh
Be A Warrior & A Saint
Be a warrior with a noble cause who stands against injustice, promises to uphold dharma, is inwardly spiritual, is a fearless soul and is compassionate within oneself.
Serve Humanity
There is no religion greater than humanity. Guru Gobind Singh devoted his life to the happiness of his people and made many sacrifices to serve mankind. One must do as much as possible to serve and help those in need or trouble. If required, even pick up the weapon to battle injustice.
Power of Love
Love has the power to turn something basic into something gold or something ordinary to something extraordinary. Guru Gobind Singh believed that God is one and omnipresent. Those who love God and his creations shall attain divinity and salvation.
Everyone’s Equal
He believed in non-discrimination, fairness, justice and freedom for everyone irrespective of the caste, colour, religion or creed they belonged to. He had the deepest regard for all religions and believed that the difference is only man-made.
Be Humble
Guru Gobind Singh never thought of himself to be a big-shot. Instead, he claimed to be the servant of God. He said that it was the people who believed in him, who gave him the status of a guru. Rest, the world is filled with people like him. He asked everyone to practice humility, have a kind heart and doesn’t expect anything in return, not even gratitude.
Be Mindful of your Speech
The words have the power to either transform a life or cut a wound so deep that is beyond healing. Guru Gobind Singh taught his people to be mindful and cautious when speaking to others. He was also against verbal abuse, cursing, gossiping, slandering or being spiteful to anyone.
Be a model human
Other than these, there are 52 hukams (or instructions) by Guru Gobind Singh that encourage the ordinary homemaker to live a good and righteous life.
The 52 Hukams of Guru Gobind Singh
– Dharam dee kirat karnee – Make a righteous living.
– Dasvand denaa – Donate a tenth share of your earnings.
– Gurbani kantth karnee – Memorize Gurbani.
– Amrit Vela utthnaa – Arise during Amrit vela (early morning).
– Piaar naal Sikhaa di Seva karni – Devotedly serve the Sikh who serves others.
– Gursikhaa paaso Gurbani dae arth samajhane – Learn the meanings of Gurbani from Gursikhs.
– Panj Kakaar dee rehit drirh rukhnee – Follow the discipline of The Five Ks strictly. Adhere resolutely to the five articles of faith.
– Shabad da abhiaas karnaa – Practice and rehearse the shabads.
– Sat Saroop Satgur daa dhian dharnaa – Contemplate and assimilate the beautiful truth of the True Enlightener.
– Guru Granth Sahib Jee noo Guru mananaa – Believe in and accept Guru Granth Sahib as the Guide to enlightenment.
– Kaarjaan dae arambh vich ardaas karnee – When undertaking any task, first perform the prayer of Ardas.
– Jaman, maran, ja viah mokae jup da paatth kar tihaaval (Karaah Parsaad) kar anand sahib dia punj paurian, ardaas, pratham panj pyaariaan atae hazooree granthee noo vartaa kae oprunth sangat noo vartaaouna – For birth naming, funeral, or marriage ceremonies or devotional reading paath; recite Japji Sahib while making Karah Parshad, perform five verses of Anand Sahib, and ardas; and then distribute Karah Prashad to the Panj Pyare, attending Granthi, and then to the congregation gathered for worship.
– Jad tak Karaah Parshaad vartadaa rahae sadh sangat addol batthee rahae – Until Karah Parshad has been served to everyone, the congregation ought to be still and remain seated.
– Anand viah binaa grahist nahee karnaa – Without the Anand Karaj marriage ceremony, carnal relations should not occur.
– Par istree, ma bhain, dhee bhain, kar jaananee. Par istree da sang nahee karnaa – Other than your wedded wife, consider all women as your mothers, sisters and daughters. Do not indulge in carnal marital relationships with them.
– Istree da mooh nahee phitkaarnaa – Do not subject women to cursing, or verbal abuse.
– Jagat jootth tambaakoo bikhiaa da tiaag karnaa – Discard worldly ways, falsehoods, and poisonous tobacco.
– Rehitvaan atae naam jupan vaalae gursikhaa dee sangat karnee – Make companions of Gursikhs who follow the Code of Conduct and recite the Divine Name.
– Kum karan vich daridar nahee karnaa – Work hard and don’t be lazy.
– Gurbani di kathaa ate kirtan roaz sunanaa te karnaa – Listen to and perform the religious discourse/sermon and singing of the hymns of Gurbani every day.
– Kisae dee ninda, chugalee, atae eirkhaa nahee karnee – Do not gossip nor slander, or be spiteful to anyone.
– Dhan, javaanee, tae kul jaat da abhiman naee karnaa (Nanak daadak tahe duae goath. Saak guroo Sikhan sang hoath) – Do not be proud of riches, youthfulness, clan or lineage. (Regardless of maternal and paternal clan or heritage, all of the Guru’s Sikhs are siblings of one family.)
– Mat uchee tae suchee rakhnee – Maintain a high standard of purity in religious discipline.
– Shubh karman tao kadae naa ttarnaa – Do not avoid performing virtuous acts.
– Budh bal da daataa Vaheguroo noo jaananaa – Appreciate intellect and power as gifts of the all-knowing Wondrous Enlightener.
– Sugandh (kasam/saunh) dae kar itbaar janaaoun vaalae tae yakeen nahee karnaa – Have no faith in oaths sworn by one attempting to convince another of sincerity.
– Sutantar Vicharna – Rule Independently.
– Raajniti vi parhnee – Read about politics.
– Dushman naal saam, daam, bhed, aadik upaao vartnae ate uprant yudh karnaa dharam hai – When dealing with enemies, practice diplomacy (through conciliation, economics, or causing division of the opposing group), and exhaust all of these techniques before justifying battle with the adversary.
– Shastar vidya te ghorh-savaari da abhiaas karnaa – Practice and exercise weaponry and horsemanship.
– Doosrae dharmaaa dae pustakaa, vidyaa parhnee. Par bhrosaa drirh Gurbanee, Akaal Purakh ute hi rakhna – Read the books and science/knowledge of other religions. But keep your trust in Gurbani and Akal Purakh [The Timeless Being] resolute, firm, and tight.
– Guroopdaesaa noo dhaaran karnaa – Follow the Guru’s teachings.
– Raheraas da paath kar kharae ho kae ardaas karnee – After reciting Rehras [evening prayers], stand up and perform Ardas.
– Saun valae sohilaa atae ‘paun guru pani pita…’ salok parhnaa – Recite the late evening prayer Sohila [3 hymns] and the verse “Pavan guru pani pita…” before sleeping.
– Kes nange nahi rakhne – Do not leave your hair uncovered.
– Singhaa da adhaa naam nahee bulaunaa – Address a Singh [or Kaur] by their entire name including Singh [or Kaur], do not shorten it by half or call them nicknames.
– Sharaab nahi peeni-piauni – Do not drink or serve alcoholic beverages.
– Sir munae noo kanaiaa nahee daenee. Uos ghar daeve jithae Akal Purukh dee sikhee ha, jo karza-ai naa hovae, bhalae subhaa da hovae, bibaekee atae gyanvaan hovae – Do not given a daughter’s hand in marriage to a shaven one. Give her to a household where the Undying divine personification Akal Purakh and tenets of Sikhism are respected, to household without debt, of a pleasing nature, which is disciplined and educated.
– Subh kaaraj Gurbanee anusaar karnae – Maintain all business affairs in accordance with scripture.
– Chugalee kar kisae da kam nahee vigaarnaa – Do not defame anyone by gossiping about their business.
– Kaurha bachan nahee kahinaa – Do not speak bitter words.
– Darshan yaatraa gurdwaaraa dee hee karnee – Make pilgrimages only for seeing Gurdwaras.
– Bachan karkae paalnaa – Keep all promises made.
– Pardaesee, lorvaan, dukhee, apung manukh dee yataahshkat seva karnee – Do as much as possible to serve and aid foreigners, those in sadness, need, disability or trouble.
– Dhee Putaree da dhan bikh Kar jananaa – Realize that taking the earnings of a daughter is poison [don’t be greedy].
– Dikhaavae da Sikh nahee banana – Do not act a Sikh outwardly only for show.
– Sikhi kesaa-suaasa sang nibhaaounee – With every breath, live as a Sikh who has uncut hair. Know this kes to be equal to the Guru and give it the utmost respect.
– Chori, yaari, tthugi, dhokaa, dagaa nahee karnaa – Abstain from thievery, adultery, cheating, deception, fraud, and pillaging.
– Sikh da itbaar karnaa – Have confidence in a Sikh.
– Jhutthi gavaahee nahee daenee – Do not make false testimonies.
– Dhroh nahee karnaa – Do not participate in treason.
– Langar Parshaad ik ras vartaaunaa – Serve langar [free community kitchen of a gurdwara] and prashad with impartiality.